Blade packaging machine



Feb. 10, 1953 Filed Aug. 26, 1948 6 i sheajtssheet 1 a ff 230 2 l i I lvu/erczaw 4 M. a 9"",

Feb. 10, 1953 2. AUERBACH 3 5 BLADE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1948 6. She'ets-Sheet 2 L? m M 5 66 495 J 1% f '1' 9...; a. zoo 14: /9.9

Filed Aug. 26, 1948 e Sheets-ShetS Feb. 10, 1953 2. AuERBAc'H BLADE PACKAGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Shet 4 Filed Aug. 26,- 1948 Feb. 10, 1953 1., AUE'RBACH BLADE PAcKmNG MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 26. 1948 we I W M a Q W H w Ma M; fi 2 3 2)], Q

Patented Feb. 10, 1953 2,627,790 BLADE PACKAGING MACHINE Zemach Auerbach, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Gillette Company, a corporation of Delaware Application August 26, 1948, Serial No. 46,352

18 Claims. 1

My invention relates to the art of packaging sharpened blades, such as razor blades, surgical instrument blades and the like. In particular the invention comprises a machine arranged successively to remove blades from a suitable magazine and introduce them into appropriately shaped slots previously cut through a strip of flexible paper, cardboard, or the like. The resulting package of blades is the subject matter of my co-pending applications Ser. No. 560,530 filed October 2'7, 1944; Serial No. 615,139 filed Sepember 8, 1945; Ser. No. 783,948 filed November 4, 1937; and-Serial No. 47,801 filed September 4, 1948.

The most important object of the present invention is to provide automatic mechanism for expeditiously and continuously forming packages of razor blades.

Another object of the invention is to increase the efiiciency and reduce the cost of packaging keen blades. 7 e Still another object of the invention is to provide automatic machinery capable of handling bare blades and assembling them into convenient package assemblies in such fashion that the blade edges are not impaired by being subjected to contact with any surfaces nor maneuvered in such a manner as to lead to the contamination of the blades by bacteria, germs, or the like.

An important feature of the invention resides in the combination of a blade magazine, strip feeding rolls, a punch operable to form a succession of slits or slots in the strip, and a carrier arranged successively to receive blades from the magazine and introduce them into the slots formed by the punch.

Another feature of the invention consists in an automatically actuated presser foot arranged to bear on the strip after the insertion of each blade in order to smooth the strip to conveniently fiat form.

A further feature of the invention resides in the combination of two trains of mechanism driven from the same sourceand both operating on the feed rolls, one being operated first to advance the strip through a series of short steps separated by pauses; the other train then being actuated automatically to advance the strip a long step sufficientto separate groups of" blades assembled on the strip as a continuousprogres- .sion of packages.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustrationand shown in the accompanying drawings, in which;

. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic elevation 2 Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a blade. packaging machine embodying my invention.

Fi 2 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 3 is aplan view Of one end of the machine with some parts removed.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blade receiver and uide.

Fig. .5 is a view in cross-section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. ,6 is a view in endlelevation ot the blade receiver; 1

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation.

of the short step feed train.-- Fig. 9'is a diagrammatic elevation of the long step feed train.

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation.

Fig. 11 is a view in cross section of the blade carrier, punch, and strip feeding rolls. I

. Figs. 12-14 are views in cross section showing progressive steps in the cycle of operations.

Figs. 15 and 16 are views in cross-section showing the action of the presser foot control mechanism. I

Fig. 17 is a view in elevation of punch and blade receiver cam assembly.

Fig. 18 is a viewin cross-section showing the path of the strip and the blades.

Fig. 19 is a bottom plan view of the presser foot control mechanism. v

- Fig. 20 is a plan view of a strip and mounted razor-blades. Fig. 21 is a view in side elevation of the strip and blades, and,

Fig. 22 is a view in perspective of the punch.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the elements of the machine shown in the drawings I shall first outline the essential instrumentalities and 1 their relationship. For this purpose I shall refer to Figs. 19 and 11 wherein a-strip-ali-of paper, cardboard orthe like is led first between a pair of feedrollsl8 and and then vertically up to a second pair of feed rolls 95 and 98. A punch 184 is'disposed onone side of the strip and cooperates'with a female die I89, the punch being actuated by a cam I66 mounted'on a shaft I 64. Spaced from the punch is a-blade magazine 210 for holdinga stack of centrally slotted, double-edged razor blades-212 shouldered fat both ends as shown,- for example. in-Fig. 20; A carrier 216 reciprocates'beneath the magazine through a long slot in a table 2 09, and the carrier has a lip 2l'8 arranged to push the bottom blade 220 out of the magazine and toward the strip 86. The punch and die form a series of tongue-forming slots I in the paper strip as shown in Fig. 20. The feed rolls bein actuated first through a series of five short steps separated by pauses in the first of which the punch is actuated to form. a slot, the strip is moved a step, and the carrier is moved to introduce one end of a blade in the slot formed by the punch during the preceding pause. At the end. of the five short steps, another train of mechanism is actuated to advance the paper strip one long step as also shown in Fig. 20; Thus groups of blades are assembled on the continuous strip and can later be separated into individual packs of five (or any other desired number).

A finger 222 is automatically swung up through the center slots of the blades in the magazine prior to each advance of thecarrier '2l6; as the carrier moves forward to remove the bottom blade it also swings the finger 222 which remains inthe slot of the bottom blade. to keep it straight during the first part of its movement toward the strip. I

To make way for the blade 22!! a cam H4 first pushes a receiver and guide lfifithrough the slot 199, its forward edge has a blade-receiving notch 209 which encounters the leading edge of the end of the blade 228. The further advance of the carrier '2 l6 pushes the blade and the receiver forward until the end of the blade extends through the slot in the strip and the tongue 19! passes through the blade slot to lock the blade upon the strip, 88.

In its forward movement the carrier 2? swings a presser foot 256' upwardly and forwardly through the slot of the blade 22!) to bear against the tongue l9! and push it back into the plane of the strip'where it is held in place by friction.

The carrier then retreats, leaving the blade locked on the strip, and the presser foot 259 is swung down out of the way. As the strip is then moved upwardly, the blade engages a projection and is turned through an arc until it lies substantially flat on the preceding blade. With-the foregoing outline established I shall now proceed to describe the specific elements of the machine shown in the drawings.

General organization The machine, as best shown in- Fig. l, is mounted on a stout metal base plate In secured to a table or stand H. Extending vertically from the base Ill is a pair of steel walls or frame members l2 and i4 running longitudinally along the base and disposed in. spaced parallel relation. A long rectangular H-shaped casting Hi is secured to the base In adjacent one side. Journaled in the walls l2 and [4 is a main drive shaft is carrying a pulley 2B for a V belt 2t driven'by a. suitable motor (not shown). Mounted on the shaft (8 is abroad pinion 22- which meshes with a large gear 24 fast upon a floating shaft it also journaled in the walls [2 and 14- but capable of endwise movement through bearing housings 28; and 30 secured tothe walls 12 and 14. At its inner end the shaft '26 carries abroad pinion 32 which meshes. with a large gear 34 on the end of a cam shaft 35 also journaled in the walls 12 and [4 and carrying a cam disk. 35 having a lateral projection 49, the cam disk bearingcontinuallyupon a collar 42 secured to the face of the gear 24.- I

vAlthough the shaft 26 with thegears 24; and 32 may move endwise, the shaft is continuously driven from the broad pinion-2'2 and continuous:

4 ly drives the cam shaft 36 through the broad pinion 32.

The long stroke train A clutch member having a toothed hub 44 is secured on the shaft 26 in cooperative association with a matching clutch member 48 loosely mounted on the shaft 26, while a compression spring 46 disposed between the hubs of the clutch members urges them apart and also forces the collar 42 into constant engagement with the cam 38. When the cam projection 40 bears on the collar 42, the shaft 26 is displaced endwise until the hubs 44 and 48: are engaged. The clutch member 48 extends outwardly through the wall l2 and terminates in a sleeve 50 integral with an enlarged head 52 into which an eccentrically disposed crank pin 54 is threaded. A link or crank arm 56 pivotally mounted at one end on the eccentric pin 54 is secured at its other end to a pin 58 secured to the face of a large gear 33 mounted for rotation on, a stud 62 secured to the wall 12. The gear is engaged with a pinion 64 loosely mounted on the end of a shaft 68, anda pawl arm 58 is secured to the face of the pinion 64. A pawl 10 is carried on the end of the pawl arm 68 and engages a. ratchet wheel 12 fixed to the shaft 65 journaled in the walls l2 and l4. 7 A

When the clutch hubs 44 and 48 are forced into engagement by the cam 40, the sleeve 56 turns and causes the crank arm 56 to reciprocate and rock the gear 60 back and forth. In so'doing the pinion 54 rocks the pawl arm and causes. the pawllfi to engage the ratchet l2 and step it along. When the. cam projection 40. passes by the collar 62, the clutch hubs disengage and thetrain of. mechanism stops.

The shaft 68 enters a coupling member i4 accommodating a shaft 16 journaled in the casting [6. As best shown in Fig. 7, the shaft 16 carries a feed roll '18 disposed within the casting l6 and bearing upon a complementary idler feed roll 60 fast upon a pin 8| journaled at each end in bearing blocks 82 working in slots cut in the sides of the casting, l5 and urged toward the feed roll 18 by compression springs 84.

A continuous strip 86 of paper cardboard or the like is drawn from a reel 83 secured to the stand H and led through the bite of the rolls i8- and 86. A gear 85 on the end of the shaft 76 meshes with a large gear 88 mounted on a stud 89 secured to the casting [6 above th shaft ii The gear 238 meshesin turn with a small gear 82 secured on the end of stubshaft E l journaled in the top of the casting l5 and carrying an up per feed roll disposed directly above the. roll 18. An idler feed93 is mounted on a pin 99 mounted at each end in bearing blocks 100 working in slots cut in the casing l6 and urged toward the feed roll 9.6 by compression spring 92. The strip (ZS-is thus led vertically upward from the lower feed rolls l9 and 80 to the upper feedrolls es and 9S, all four feed rolls being driven in unison through the gear train described. When the clutch members 44and 48 are ongaged, the pawl It. acts on the ratchet to step the shafts 65 and 16 along, thus turning all four feed rolls to advance the stripv 83 a predetermined distance corresponding to the spacing C167 sired between. adjacent blade package groups on the strip 36, a'sfsh'own best in Fig. 20.

The short stroke feed train To feed the ga as im ugn the nine short steps necessary for the punching and introduction of the five blades of a single package, I provide a train of mechanism beginning with'the floating shaft 26. On this shaft is mounted a clutch hub II 0 normally engaging a complementary clutch member IIZ loosely mounted on the shaft 26 and integral with a sleeve II6 extending through the wall I4 and the bearing housing to terminate in an eccentric surrounded by a collar II 8 integral with one end of an ec centric link I20. The other end of the eccentric link I20 is pivotally secured to a pin I24 carried by a pawl arm I22 loosely mounted on the shaft 66 and carrying a pawl I26 engaged with a ratchet wheel I28 fast upon the shaft 66. On the base I0 is mounted a back-last-preventing pawl I36 urged upon the ratchet wheel by a spring I32, all as shown in Fig. 8.

When the shaft 26 turns and the clutch members H0 and H2 are engaged, the eccentric link I20 is reciprocated to cause the pawl I26 to step the ratchet wheel I28-and thus turn the shaft 66 to operate the four feed rolls in the same manner as previously described. The gear ratios and the cam 38 are so designed that the crank I20 moves the feed rolls through five short steps each time the clutch is engaged. When the cam projection 40 displaces the shaft 26, the clutch members I10 and H2 are disengaged and the long stroke mechanism is engaged. The two ratchet wheels 12 and I 26 operate to turn the same shafts but do not interfere with one another. If it be desired to pack blades in groups other than fives, the short stroke feed train is set to advance the strip n steps, n being the number of blades in a group.

, The punch drive For reciprocating the punch I84 I provide a train beginning with the clutch member H2, which is secured to a gear II4 also loosely mounted in the shaft 26 and meshing with a gear I mounted for rotation upon a stud I52 set in the wall I4. Meshed with the gear I50 is a gear I54 also mounted on a stud I56 set in the wall I4. The gear train terminates in a gear I58 fast upon a shaft I60 journaled in the walls I2 and I4 and entering a coupling I62 by means of which the shaft I 60 is coupled to a cam shaft I64 journaled in the casting I6 above the feed roll 18. As best shown in Fig. 1'1 the shaft I64 carries a cam I66 within the casting I6 and a pinion I68 at its outer end. The pinion I 66 meshes with a pinion I19 fast on the grid of a stub shaft I12 journaled in the casting I6 directly above the shaft I64 and carrying a cam I14. Within the casting I6 between the cam shaft I64 and I12 and the strip 86 is a block I16 having an enlarged cubical base I18 through which two slots I89 and I62 are cut to receive a punch or male die member I84 and a blade guide I96.

The punch I 84, as shown best in Fig. 22, includes a curved head I86 bearing on the cam I66, a shank, and abutting edge I88 shaped to cut a slot I90 (Fig. 20) through the strip 86. The slot is twice offset to produce a tab or tongue I9 I. Secured to the base I18 opposite the punch I84 is a female die I89 shaped to receive the die I84.

The blade guide and receiver I96 is rounded at its rear end and bears on the cam I14. In Figs. 4-6 the details of the blade guide are shown. The rear end I98 is reduced in' thickness, the center portion is broad and flat, and the front end has secured to its lower'face a strip I99 cut to form a notch 200 in conjunction with the upper member I96, the front edge of which is approprlately bevelled to combine in the formation of the blade receiving notch 200.

When the clutch IIO-I I2 is engaged, the gear H4 is rotated to drive the shafts I60 and I64 through the gears I50, I54, and I58. The cam shafts I64 and I12 then turn to cause the cams I66 and I14 to push first the punch I84 and then the blade guide I96 through the block I18 and through the strip 86. The punch I84 is urged toward the cam I66 by means of a compression spring I94 housed in the base I18 and bearing on the depending flange of the punch head I86. It is to be understood that alter the punch has been actuated, the short stroke feeder advances the strip 88 one short step until the slot formed by the punch is moved upwardly in line with the blade guide I96 which then enters the slot and pushes the tongue I9I outwardly at approximately right angles to the strip as best shown in Fig. 12. e

The carrier The casting I6 is provided with a top or table 209 having a central slot 2I4 leading to the blade guide I96 and serving as a guideway for a reciprocating carrier or pusher 2I6. Mounted on the table 209 over the slot 2I4 is a vertical blade magazine 2 I 0 arranged to hold a horizontal stock of bare, double-edged, centrally slotted razor blades 2I2. At its forward end the carrier 2I6 is provided with a slight projection or lip 2I8 just high enough to engage only the lowermost blade 220 in the magazine 2I0. A slim finger 222 is carried upon a pin 224 mounted for rotation in the side walls of the casting I6 and engaged by a tension spring 226 which urges the back of the finger against the front end of the carrier 2 I 6. The finger extends upwardly through the slot 2I4 and through the center slots of the blades 2I2 in the magazine 2I0. As the carrier 2I6 moves forward pushing the lowermost blade 220 ahead of it, the finger 222 is pushed forward and down; this motion serves to move the blade 220 with the finger 222 until the blade is disengaged from the stack and well on its way. During this time the finger 222 preserves the alignment of the blade and prevents lateral shifting thereof.

At its rear end the carrier 2 I 6 is provided with an upright slotted standard 220 in which works a crank pin 230 set in the face of a disk 232 mounted on the end of a shaft 234 journaled in a bearing housing 236 secured on the casting I6. The shaft 234 enters a coupling 240 which serves to couple ina shaft 238 journaled in a bearing housing 242 secured on the-wall I4. On the end of the shaft 238 is a gear 244 meshing with the gear II4 which, as previously described, is driven through the clutch IIO--I I2 on the shaft 26.

Rotation of the gear 244 takes place only when the clutch is engaged, the carrier train thus being associated with the cam shaft drive and the short step feed train. When the clutch IIO-I I2 is disengaged and the clutch 4448 is engaged, the long stroke feed train operates by itself, the rest of the mechanism remaining stationary.

The carrier 2| 6 pushesflthe blade 220 forwardly into the notch 200 of $119 blade guide I96 then extending through the slot in the strip and also pushes back the blade guide. The'machine is so timed that the carrier -then starts back. The cycle of the carrier, punch, and blade guide is shown progressively in Fig. 18 (retracted), Fig. 11 (starting forward),' 3}ig. 12 (halfway along), Fig. 13 (blade engages blade guide), and Fig. 14

The p-rcsser 1' cat In order to return the tongue I9I to a position flush with the strip 86 after the introduction of the blade, I provide a pivoting presser foot 258 working on a pivot pin 25?. set in a'block secured to the bottom of the table 299 in such position that the presser foot 250 works in the slot H4. The presser foot is longitudinally slotted to receive an actuating pin 25% carried by a rod or bolt 26% slidably mounted in the block 254 and containing a compression spring 265 tending to force the bolt to the rear and to carry the presser foot back and down. The rear end of the bolt 26? has an enlarged head 262 cut away along one side as shown at 263. Cooperating with the bolt 269 is a latch 268 pivotally secured to the block 25 3 and urged by a spring 2-12 to rock to a position bearing on the bolt 260 beneath its head 262. The bolt head 262 intercepts the carrier 2l6 which forces the bolt forwardly as it moves ahead. In so doing the presser foot is pivoted upwardly through the slot in the blade 228. Finally the presser foot 250 carries the tongue iSI back into the plane of the strip 86 after the end of the blade has passed into its prepared slot. Zhe latch 258 is sprung in behind the bolt head 252, at the end of the forward stroke of the latter to restrain the bolt from rearward movement when the carrier withdraws.

A rod 2'! having a blunt point is carried in guide lugs 2T5 .mounted on the bottom or the table 209. The rod2l4 is urged rearwardly by a compression spring 216 bearing on the forward guide 215 and acollar ZlSpinned to the rod 2%. Pivotally mounted on the rear guide are a trigger 260 bearing at its lower end on the end of the rod 214 and having its upper end lying in the path of the carrier 2H5. The blunt point at the forward end of the rod 21a is disposed adiacent the lower end of the pivoting latch 26%. When the carrier returns to its rearmost position, it swings the trigger 280 which pushes the rod 27 3 forward against the spring 2%. pointed forward end of the rod then engages the latch 268 and rotates it until it disengages the bolt head 262. Thereupon the spring 266 forces the bolt 26!! rearwardly, while the pin 253 pulls the presser foot back and down from the position shown in Fig. 14 tothat shown in Fig. 10.

Fastened to the magazine 2210 is aninclined plate 298 which leads to the bite of the upper feed rolls 86 and 98. After a blade has been introduced into a slot in the strip 86 and the carrier and presser foot have returned to rest position, the feed train operates to move the strip upwardly. In so doing the end of the blade 2% which extends through the slot meets the corner oi the slot I88 and begins to turn through a ninety degree are until'it lies substantially fiat on the preceding blade. As the strip 85 then proceeds further upward the free end of the blade engages the plate 295 which converges toward the strip and gradually completes the turn of the blade until it is flat enough to pass through the bite of the upper feed rolls.

The complete cycle of the machine may, for convenience, be regarded as beginning in the center of the long feed stroke. At this time the clutch fiI4-48 is engaged and the clutch I IE-I i2 disengaged. Consequently the carrier 21's, punch 84, blade guide I96, and short stroke feed mechanism all are stopped. The'lon stroke mecha- The nism operates until the cam 40 disengages the clutch 44-68. The strip 86 pauses, and the clutch IHIII2 engages. The punch I84 is just actuated to form a slot in the strip 86, but the short stroke feeder operates to move the strip before the carrier 2H5 or blade guide I 65 can be actuated. Then there is a pause in the feed during which the carrier 2I6 and blade guide I96 operate with the presser foot 258 to insert a blade in the slot formed by the punch during the first pause. ihe punch also operates during the second pause. This sequenc is repeated until the sixth pause (which follows the fifth short stroke), in which the cam 69 disengages the clutch I It-I I2, the timing being so adjusted that the fifth blade is inserted in the fifth slot but the trains of mechanism are stopped before the punch is actuated to form what would be a sixth slot. Thereupon the clutch 44-48 is engaged to place the long stroke mechanism in action, and the cycle has begun again.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail an illustrative embodiment thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A blade packaging machine comprising a blade magazine, feed rolls arranged to feed a flexible unperforated strip along a path spaced from said magazine, means for operating said feed rolls through a series of short steps separated by pauses, a punch movable to cut a slot in the strip during the pause after each feed step, a carrier arranged to remove a blade from the magazine and insert it end foremost through a slot formed by said punch in a position beyond that in which the slot is formed by the punch,

and a common power-operated mechanism for actuating both the punch and the carrier.

2. The machine defined in claim 1 wherein the carrier inserts the blade in the slot during the pause between the feeding strips following that in which the said slot was formed.

3. A blade packaging machine comprising a blade magazine, feed rolls arranged to feed a flexible strip along a path spaced from said magazine, automatic feed roll driving mechanism including separate pawl and ratchet elements ar-- ranged first to move the stripthrough a series of short steps separated by pauses and then through one long step, a punch, means for automatically moving the punch through the strip during each of said pauses, a carrier movable to remove a blade from said magazine and insert it in a hole made by said punch, and a common power-operated mechanism for actuating both the automatic punch moving means and the car nor.

4. A blade packaging machine comprising a blade magazine, feed rolls arranged to feed a flexible strip along a path at one side of said magazine, automatic feed roll driving mechanism including separate pawl and ratchet elements arranged first to move the strip through a series of short steps separated by pauses and then through one long step, a punch, means for auto matically moving the punch through the strip during each of said pauses, a carrier movable successively to remove blades from the bottom of the magazine and insert them in holes formed by said punch, each blade being inserted during the pause following that during which the punch formed the corresponding hole, and a common power-operated mechanism for actuating the automatic punch moving means and the carrier.

5. A blade packaging machine comprising a 9 blade magazine, feed rolls arranged to feed a flexible strip through a path spaced from said magazine, feed roll driving mechanism including.

once during each of said pauses, and a carrier.

also controlled by said clutch for-removingsuccessive blades from the magazine and introducing them into the slots formed by said punch.

6. A blade packaging machine comprising a magazine for centrally slotted blades, feed rolls arranged to feed a flexible strip along a path at one side of said magazine, a punch arranged to form tongues and associated slots in said strip, a carrier arranged to remove blades successively from the magazine and introduce them into the slots formed by said punch, a presser member, and means for moving said presser member through successive blade slots to press each tongue toward the plane of the strip after the blade has been introduced into the slot.

7. A blade packaging machine comprising intermittently acting strip feeding mechanism, a punch synchronized with the feeding mechanism and shaped to cut tongued slots one by one in spaced series in a strip, means for inserting in each slot the end of a slotted blade, and means for folding a tongue over the end of each successive blade as it is inserted in the strip.

8. A blade packaging machine comprising a magazine for blades, feed rolls arranged to feed a strip along a path spaced from said magazine, a carrier movable to remove blades from said magazine and carry them toward the strip to be reciprocated through a path intersecting the strip, a blade guide movable through a path intersecting the strip and meeting said carrier means for first advancing the strip through a relatively long step and then through a plurality of short steps, and means for first actuating the punch and then simultaneously actuating the carrier and blade guide.

9. A blade packaging machine comprising means for intermittently advancing a strip along a straight path, a punch movable through a path intersecting the strip path, a blade carrier movable to present a blade end foremost to the strip in a path disposed at right angles to the strip path at a point remote from the point of intersection of the strip path and the path of the punch, and common power-operated mechanism for automatically actuating the punch and the carrier in sequence.

10. A blade packaging machine comprising a blade magazine, feed rolls for advancing a flexible strip along a path adjacent said magazine, a blade carrier movable between the magazine and the strip, a punch movable to and from the strip, a first clutch, means driven through said first clutch for actuating the feed rolls, carrier and punch, a second clutch, means driven through said second clutch for actuating the feed rolls, and means for selectively engaging said clutches.

11. A blade packaging machine comprising a plurality of cooperating feed rolls for advancing a flexible packaging strip, a shaft controlling the movement of said rolls, a pair of ratchet wheels secured to said shaft, independent trains of mechid anism for rotating said'ratchet wheels to different degrees, a clutch controlling each train, and

means driven through one of said clutchesfor punching said strip and inserting a blade therein while the feed rolls remain at rest.

12. A blade packaging machine comprising; a

plurality of cooperating feedrolls' foradvancing a flexible strip, a shaftcontrolling the movement of the feed rolls, separate trains off-mechanism for rotating said shaft,'a clutch controlling each of said trains, a blade carrier, means for recipro-Q a peac means for reciprocating said carrier, eating said punch, thereciprocating means for the carrier and punch being driven through one of said clutches, and a cam arranged first to engage one clutch and simultaneously disengage the other whereby the feed rolls, carrier, and punch are simultaneously operated, said cam then reversing the clutches so that the feed rolls alone are operated.

13. A blade packaging machine comprising a magazine for blades, a plurality of feed rolls 00- operating to advance a flexible strip along a path adjacent the blade magazine, a carrier movable to carry a blade from the magazine to the strip, a punch movable to punch tongue-defining slots in the strip, a blade guide movable to elevate a tongue and guide a blade into the strip from the carrier, and a presser foot movable to depress the tongue elevated by the blade guide.

14. A blade packaging machine comprising a magazine for blades, means for advancing a flexible strip past the magazine in a series of steps, a carrier movable to remove a blade from the magazine and carry it to the strip, a punch actuated intermittently to form slots in the strip, means for driving the punch and the carrier, a clutch controlling the driving means, and a cam for disengaging said clutch after a predetermined number of operations of the punch and carrier.

15. A blade packaging machine comprising a magazine for shouldered blades, a reciprocating punch, feeding mechanism for intermittently advancing a packaging strip across the path of the punch for forming a predetermined number of short slits therein in cooperation with the punch, a reciprocating carrier movable at right angles to the strip to insert a blade end foremost in each slit until the shoulders of the blade engage the strip at both ends of a slit and a common power-operated mechanism for actuating the punch and carrier.

16. A blade packaging machine comprising a blade magazine, means for feeding a flexible packaging strip along a path spaced from said magazine, a punch movable to cut successive slots in said strip, a carrier movable in a path at right angles to the slotted strip arranged to remove a blade from the magazine and insert it end foremost through each slot after the punch has been retracted from the strip, and a common power operated mechanism for both moving the punch and operating the carrier.

1'7. A blade packaging machine comprising a blade magazine, means for feeding a flexible packaging strip along a path at one side of said magazine, a punch movable to cut successive slots in said strip, a reciprocating carrier movable in a path at right angles to the slotted strip arranged to remove a blade from a magazine and insert it end foremost through each slot after the punch has been retracted from the strip, and a common power operated mechanism for moving 11 the punch and reciprocating the carrier inv timed relation.

18. A blade packaging machine comprising a blade magazine, means for feeding a packaging strip intermittently along a straight path, means for slotting the strip while at rest in said path, a blade carrier movable from the magazine at right angles toward the slotted strip, a blade guide movable through the slotted strip to meet a blade presented end foremost by the carrier and then to retreat through the strip thereby guiding the end of the blade through the slot.

ZEMACH AUERBACH.

2 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,421,489 Joslin July 4, 1922 1,844,820 Morey -i Feb. 9, 1932 10 2,433,862 Nadeau Jan. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain i-- Oct. 31, 1934 

